Oklahoma liberals are in a crucial position to bankrupt state government if they get their way in the November election.

I am not talking about the election of any official (even though that is important).

The so-called HOPE (Helping Oklahoma Public Education) amendment (State Question 744) to the Oklahoma Constitution will be on the Nov. 2 ballot thanks to a signature drive by the Oklahoma Education Association, outside liberal groups and misguided Oklahomans who though they were signing something that would really help education.

It won’t.

This ill-fated proposal had to be done with an initiative petition because its backers knew it would not pass the Legislature.

They claim the sole purpose is to fund education in Oklahoma at the same rate as the neighboring states of Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Colorado and New Mexico.

It sounds good, but like almost every liberal strategy, the end result is just the opposite.

If it passes, it would cost Oklahoma an additional $850 million a year in education costs.

So, compelled by this new law, legislators would have to fund education before spending a penny on highways, bridges, prisons, the OSBI, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, district attorney office funding, parks and any other item in the budget.

This year, Oklahoma has a billion-dollar shortfall that would be a two-billion shortfall if HOPE passes.

That would gut law enforcement, close state parks, force layoffs for OHP and probably cause unpaid furloughs or layoffs for every state departments.

The liberals would be shorting child welfare, public safety, roads and a host of other activities they adore.

HOPE is unconstitutional on the surface. According to the Oklahoma Constitution, spending originates in the House, not through initiative petition. HOPE would strip the legislators - the elected representatives of the people - from oversight of how taxes are spent.

The founders of our state, in their wisdom, wanted the public to have a voice in taxation and spending. By placing an automatic funding mechanism on the budget, the public no longer has a voice.

In fact, HOPE is unconstitutional because it causes Oklahoma’s budget to be affected by spending in Texas, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri and Arkansas.

That is just not right.

First, throwing money at public education doesn’t improve results. If Oklahoma wants a better educated population, it needs reforms that involve more choice for families. Bad schools need to go out of business. Charter schools need to be encouraged. Textbooks need closer scrutiny. Good teachers needed to be rewarded.

Spending another $40 million a week won’t solve those problems. The high school dropout rate at some state schools is 40 percent.

Secondly, while those states may pay spend more per student than Oklahoma, it costs less to live in Oklahoma. Texas has high property taxes. Housing costs are much higher in Colorado and Texas.

A per-pupil expenditure in Houston probably doesn’t buy as much as $6,900 in Muskogee.

And this vote will be promoted with commercials showing cute elementary students begging voters to give them a chance for a decent life.

Right.

You can already picture the TV spots.

HOPE backers say the measure doesn’t raise taxes. That is deceptive. If passed, it would put tremendous pressure on the Legislature to raise state income taxes, sales taxes and property taxes to make up a $850 million shortfall.

HOPE backers say that opponents are secretly pushing for consolidation of rural schools. They know that is a hot button issue for rural voters. They don’t want to lose their schools, which are usually the focal point of the community.

The truth is that Oklahoma doesn’t have too many rural schools, it has too many rural districts (536 in 77 counties) and administrators. You won’t see the OEA compare the administrative load of the six surroundings states because Oklahoma would be the big loser.

One needed reform is to cut administrative costs to put more resources directly into the classroom.

Tulsa Public Schools is being forced to eliminate almost a hundred bureaucratic jobs and the net result will not lessen education. What does that tell us?

HOPE is being opposed by the State Chamber of Commerce, the Professional Oklahoma Educators (POE), Oklahoma Farm Bureau, TRUST (Roads and Bridges advocates) and most of the Legislature.

Oklahoma already spends more than half of its discretionary budget on education.

Tell your friends and neighbors - vote no SQ 744.

• A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s work.

As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.”

The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied,

“They will in a minute.”

• In the doctors office two patients are talking.

“You know, I had an appendectomy last month and the doctor left a sponge in me by mistake.”

“A sponge!” exclaims the other. “Does it hurt much?”

“No…no pain at all,” says the first, “but…boy, do I get thirsty!”

• Little Johnny was practicing the violin in the living room while his Uncle was trying to read in the den. The family dog was lying in the den, and as the screeching sounds of little Johnny’s violin reached his ears, he began to howl loudly.

Uncle listened to the dog and the violin as long as he could. Then he jumped up, slammed his paper to the floor and yelled above the noise, “For pity’s sake, can’t you play something the dog doesn’t know!”

• One day a fella was driving home when he suddenly realized that it was his daughter’s birthday and — shock — he hadn’t bought her anything. Out of the corner of his eye he notices a shopping mall. Knowing that it was ‘now or never’, he pulls his car through three lanes of traffic, finds a parking bay and runs into the mall.

After a frantic search he finds a toy store, goes inside and attracts the attention of the shop assistant. When asked what he’d like, he simply says: “a Barbie Doll”.

The shop assistant looks at him in a condescending manner and asks, “So Sir, which Barbie would that be?”

The man looks surprised so the assistant continues, “We have Barbie Goes To the Ball at $19.99, Barbie goes Shopping at $19.99, Barbie goes Clubbing at $19.99, Barbie Goes To The Gym at $19.99, Cyber Barbie at $19.99 and Divorced Barbie at $249.99.”

The man can’t help himself and asks, “why is Divorced Barbie $249.99 when all those other Barbies are selling for $19.99???”

“Well Sir, that’s quite obvious!” says the assistant,

“Divorced Barbie comes with Ken’s house, Ken’s car, Ken’s furniture ….
Correction
Contrary to previous reports, the Professional Oklahoma Educators has not taken a stand in opposition to SQ 744 but has remained neutral.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 1st, 2010 and is filed under Columns.